Enable carries a giant weight of expectation as this spectacular bay filly seeks to achieve the rare feat of winning a second consecutive G1 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) on Sunday.
Her victory last year – more a demolition of 17 rivals by Frankie Dettori’s mount than a simple victory – took place north of Paris at Chantilly during Longchamp’s redevelopement. Europe’s greatest all-aged horserace now returns to the Bois de Boulogne with a new grandstand and even a fresh name – ParisLongchamp.
In this instance, five-time G1 winner Enable looks to have two serious rivals in the shape of another filly, the brilliant three-year-old Sea Of Class – who is expected to be supplemented on Wednesday – and four-year-old colt Waldgeist, who failed to live up to some glitzy hype in 2017 but has transformed into a winning machine this year.
A large field may materialise but it will be quite a shock if one of the big three does not win. Especially so as each should be suited by the anticipated quick ground with a long dry spell in Paris not expected to change significantly before the horses leave the gates for the Arc, the first of five simulcast races from the French capital.
A setback much earlier this year resulted in a major rethink regarding Enable’s career, indeed she was kept away from any serious work for four months.
Her trainer, John Gosden, who even without much help from this star filly is leading the British trainers championship this year, described this quiet period for Enable: “She was getting so angry and frustrated, especially seeing other horses going out to exercise.”
She reappeared last month for the G3 September Stakes on the all-weather at Kempton Park over a mile and a half. And it was business as usual with Enable mowing down race-hardened and multiple Group winner Crystal Ocean soon after Dettori had pushed the button about 400m from the wire.
The iconic rider’s post-race comment summed up the optimism that all her supporters will have felt: “That was awesome. I wasn’t sure how fit she was but then she’s trained by a master trainer. She felt as good as ever. Bring on the Arc!”
Gosden said: “She was only 80% fit for that, 85% at a push. And she’s done everything right since.”
That included some fast work last weekend when she emerged from the early morning Newmarket mist with Dettori’s yellow cap clearly visible as the pair surged away from a smart handicapper.
Enable is owned by 81-year-old Prince Khalid Abdullah, whose amazing record as an owner/breeder includes five Arc wins, whilst James Doyle’s mount Sea Of Class is owned by the Hong Kong-based Tsui family with a tremendous Arc record.
Urban Sea won the 1993 Arc in the silks of David Tsui, with her son Sea The Stars winning in 2009 for the family. Now, with Sea The Stars’ daughter Sea Of Class a serious fancy, the Tsui dynasty could have another great victory.
Sea Of Class only made her debut in April but her ascent has been swift and dramatic. She has won G1’s on her last two starts – delivering a thrilling last-to-first victory in the Irish Oaks at The Curragh in July and then surging late again for a decisive triumph in the Yorkshire Oaks at York in August. Both those races were on quick ground over the Arc distance, though she does take on the colts for the first time on Sunday.
Waldgeist is also a late closer who has won his last four starts, and he looked all set for a huge Arc show when thrashing his rivals (2017 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase runner-up Talismanic was a well-held second) in the G2 Prix Foy over the Arc course and distance last month under Pierre-Charles Boudot. Waldgeist’s trainer Andre Fabre has won the Arc a record seven times, even if the most recent of those was Rail Link 12 years ago.
Supporters of all the 2018 Arc contenders will no doubt be looking for a low gate given that of the last 13 Arcs run on good or faster ground 11 winners came from stall six or lower. And this year the bias could be even stronger with six metres of extra space – due to the removal of the rail entering the straight – likely to assist those who may otherwise meet traffic along the fence.
(Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Mr. David Tsui had passed away. The Hong Kong Jockey Club extends its sincere apologies to the Tsui family for any distress this may have caused.)
